We can all agree nothing beats face-to-face interaction and the chance to network with innovative individuals. While nothing can replace that, webinars have been proven as a viable tool to create and build new relationships for those self-quarantining. Here are four reasons why your firm should consider hosting webinars in lieu of in-person events in the near future.
Cost-Effective – Webinars have been more frequently used as a result of the stay-at-home orders and social distancing rules. Venues can cost an estimated $950 to $1,250 per hour for the event space only. Factor in the price of meals, staff, speakers, marketing materials and other equipment needed to run a successful event and you can expect a very large bill at the end. Webinars eliminate all those miscellaneous fees and save your firm and average $1,293 per person on business travel expenses.
Expand Audience Reach – Being in a crowded, cold conference room for hours is usually less desirable than enjoying a presentation from the comfort of your own home. Additionally, venues have a maximum occupancy because of fire safety regulations, but webinars provide speakers the ability to accommodate a much larger audience from anywhere (based on your video conferencing platform’s bandwidth.) This gives your firm the chance to expand your reach and scale without the extra cost.
Analytics and Reporting Capabilities – At the end of each session, webinar platforms such as Go2Webinar and Webex provide reporting stats. As an organizer, you can receive a variety of data on the attendees, such as a breakdown of your attendees’ industry, engagement, and attentiveness rates. This information provides a general overview of how well your webinar performed and can be vital in planning future virtual events. You can also send out brief digital surveys to all participants immediately following the event, ensuring a higher response rate, rather than relying on a follow-up email days or weeks after the conference.
Eco-Friendly – Since people can tune in to a webinar from their homes, attendees are reducing their carbon footprint by not having to take a plane, train, or car to an event. In the same vein, the weather can be unpredictable causing cancellations. Fortunately, when it comes to a webinar one thing remains true: rain or shine, the (virtual) show must go on!
Promotions well in advance gives all parties time to prepare and plan. Make sure to collaborate with your marketing team on creating materials and core messaging to captivate your audience. This will be key part of your webinar’s success and attendee experience.
